Privacy Policy: Data Minimization as a Design Philosophy
Context
In an era of pervasive tracking, a personal portfolio should not be an invasive surveillance tool. I needed a digital presence that informs the reader without extracting their behavioral telemetry or inflating page weight with tracking scripts.
Decision
Deploy a zero-data-collection infrastructure. This site is built as a static Astro deployment, explicitly rejecting tracking cookies and third-party analytics, while utilizing local storage solely for client-side UX preferences.
Alternatives Considered
Google Analytics / Hotjar
- Granular user behavior heatmaps
- Easy-to-digest demographic charts
- Violates user privacy via third-party cookies
- Adds significant Javascript bloat and latency
Plausible / Fathom (Privacy-First Analytics)
- GDPR compliant and lightweight
- No personal data collection
- Even 'light' tracking is a non-zero resource drain
- Requires third-party scripts and external dependencies
Reasoning
The leanest system is the one that doesn't exist. By choosing zero analytics, I ensure 100% user privacy and peak site performance. Just as breathomics focuses on non-invasive diagnostics, this site architecture focuses on a non-invasive user experience.
The “Zero-Telemetry” Architecture
This site operates on a principle of absolute transparency. If a process doesn’t serve the reader, it is purged from the codebase.
1. Client-Side Persistence (Local Storage)
To provide a seamless visual experience, this site utilizes Local Storage for a single purpose: Theme Preference.
- Light/Dark Mode: When you toggle the theme, a small string is saved locally to your browser so your preference is remembered upon your next visit.
- No Server Sync: This data is strictly client-side. I never transmit your theme preference to my server or any third party.
- No Cookies: I do not use
HTTPcookies for session tracking or identification.
2. Data Collection: The Empty Set
The current technical state of this portfolio is a Hard-Negative on data harvesting:
- No PII: No Personally Identifiable Information is requested, stored, or sold.
- No Third-Party Scripts: I do not load external trackers, pixels, or fonts that could be used for cross-site fingerprinting.
3. The Future Newsletter Pipeline
While the site is currently static, I may introduce a newsletter to disseminate research updates. This will follow an Active-Consent model:
- Explicit Opt-In: No pre-checked boxes or “dark patterns” will be used.
- Reputable Processing: Email data will be handled by a specialized provider (e.g., Buttondown or MailerLite) that prioritizes encryption and data sovereignty.
- Immediate Egress: A single-click “Unsubscribe” function will be mandatory.
Comparative Strategic Analysis
This site views privacy as a technical specification, not just a legal requirement.
| Feature | Standard “Modern” Web | This Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking Scripts | 5-15 (Avg) | 0 |
| Local Storage | Tracking/Marketing | UI State Only |
| Third-Party Cookies | Yes | No |
| Data Monetization | Often | Never |
User Rights & Sovereignty
Under GDPR and CCPA, you have the right to your data. Since my database is empty, there is typically nothing to provide or delete. You can clear your localStorage at any time through your browser settings to reset your theme preference.
The Road Ahead
As I integrate more interactive elements, this policy will be updated with the same “privacy-first” logic. The goal remains: providing high-fidelity information without a high-fidelity footprint.
Contact
For inquiries regarding this policy or my research:
- Direct: Contact via the links on the contact page